‘MCN’ combine as PSG continue perfect start

Kylian Mbappe again made a decisive contribution as Paris Saint-Germain’s superstar front three combined for the goals in a 3-1 win over Angers in Ligue 1 yesterday. On his first start since winning the World Cup with France last month, Mbappe volleyed in PSG’s crucial second goal just after the break at the Parc des Princes, and he then set up Neymar for the goal that clinched the points.Before that, Edinson Cavani had marked his first appearance of the season with an early opener, only for Thomas Mangani’s penalty to bring Angers back level midway through the first half. This was a third win in as many games for PSG to start their defence of the French title, and seeing all three members of his ‘MCN’ attack find the net will have been a source of great satisfaction for new coach Thomas Tuchel. This was the first time in six months that Mbappe, Cavani and Neymar had all played together, with the latter having missed the end of last season due to injury.Tuchel also selected Angel Di Maria in his starting line-up, with that quartet alone having cost the capital side well over 500mn euros ($581 mn) in transfer fees in the last five years. The German coach also handed a debut to his compatriot, the young defender Thilo Kehrer, a recent 37 million-euro signing from Schalke 04.To accommodate him as well as so many attacking talents, the former Borussia Dortmund coach lined his side up in an unusual 3-4-2-1 formation, and the early signs were promising enough. A brilliant Thiago Silva interception on halfway led to Neymar sending a low ball across goal for Cavani to turn in a 12th-minute opener, and the Uruguayan headed off the post from another Neymar cross soon after.However, Angers got the chance to equalise when Kehrer brought down Flavien Tait in the box, a challenge that led to the defender being booked and the visitors winning a penalty. Mangani duly slotted the spot-kick past Alphonse Areola, another French World Cup winner returning to the side, in his case at the expense of Gianluigi Buffon.Not happy with his team’s display, Tuchel took off Kehrer at the interval, sending on youngster Stanley N’Soki and reverting to a back four. The alterations paid off as Mbappe restored the lead within six minutes of the restart, meeting Di Maria’s cross from the left with a superb volley low into the far corner. Mbappe was in the mood to thrill the Parc des Princes crowd, and he set up the third goal on 65 minutes, his cutback being turned in by Neymar for the Brazilian’s third league goal this season, as many as Mbappe.Monaco are in action today at Bordeaux, who are hoping to name Arsenal and France great Thierry Henry as their new coach in the coming days, once Gustavo Poyet’s departure is confirmed.On Friday night, Nabil Fekir made his first appearance of the new season as Lyon bounced back from last week’s surprise loss to Reims by seeing off Strasbourg 2-0. Bruno Genesio’s men eased to their second victory from as many league home matches this term thanks to goals from Martin Terrier and Bertrand Traore, while Fekir, who saw a move to Liverpool fall through in the close season, played the last 11 minutes.The home side took the lead shortly before half-time as full-back Ferland Mendy slipped through an inch-perfect pass for Terrier, who spent last season on loan at Strasbourg, to curl into the bottom corner.Former Chelsea forward Traore wrapped up the win in style with a fantastic individual goal in the 64th minute, latching onto Memphis Depay’s ball before dribbling past visiting goalkeeper Matz Sels and a backtracking defender to slot in.Fekir missed the first two games of the season after returning late from the World Cup, where he made six substitute appearances in France’s triumphant campaign. Lyon, who finished third last season to qualify for the Champions League group stage, have now won their last eight home Ligue 1 matches.French Ligue 1 resultsParis Saint-Germain 3 (Cavani 12, Mbappe 51, Neymar 65) Angers 1 (Mangani 22-pen)Playing today: Lille v Guingamp (1300 GMT), Bordeaux v Monaco (1500 GMT), Marseille v Rennes (1900 GMT)Played Friday: Lyon 2 (Terrier 42, Traore 64) Strasbourg 0